Oldfart
01-16-2014, 08:07 AM
Roger Lloyd-Pack, the British actor known to millions as slow-witted roadsweeper Trigger in BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses, has died aged 69.
Well-known for his rubbery face and lugubrious delivery, he also appeared as Owen Newitt in The Vicar of Dibley.
Born in Islington, north London in 1944, he was the son of Hammer horror actor Charles Lloyd-Pack and the father of actress Emily Lloyd.
His agent confirmed he died of pancreatic cancer on Wednesday night.
A versatile character actor who was at home with both comedy and drama, Lloyd-Pack studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (Rada) before making his stage debut in Northampton.
After appearances in The Avengers and other TV shows, his screen debut came in 1968 when he played a small part in The Magus.
His breakthrough came in 1981 when he was cast as Colin "Trigger" Ball, the dim but amiable roadsweeper who always called Nicholas Lyndhurst's Rodney character "Dave".
"If it's a girl they're calling her Sigourney after an actress," he said of Del Boy's child-to-be. "And if it's a boy they're naming him Rodney, after Dave."
Lloyd-Pack would go on to call the role "both a blessing and a curse" and express bemusement about his popularity with audiences.
'It's extraordinary to me as an actor to find oneself in a sitcom that's been successful and goes on being successful," he said. "I can't go anywhere without anyone going on about it."
In recent years he was seen at the Shakespeare's Globe, appearing alongside Mark Rylance and Stephen Fry in its production of Richard III and Twelfth Night.
A committed socialist, he campaigned for nuclear disarmament and was a supporter of Left Unity, a recently formed "radical political party of the left".
John Challis, who appeared as Boycie in Only Fools, said the news was "very sad and very distressing" and that Lloyd-Pack was "irreplaceable".
"My thoughts are with his family," said the actor. "He was a remarkable man and he'll be missed."
Father Ted creator Graham Linehan was among others to pay tribute, saying it was "very sad news".
"Trigger was an ancestor to Father Dougal and I'm glad I once had a chance to tell him so," he said on Twitter.
James Corden called him an "incredible actor and person", while Lord Sugar tweeted that Trigger had been "one of my favourite characters".
His death was also marked by CND, who marked his death by posting a picture of the actor campaigning against Trident.
Roger was a very very funny man and will be sadly missed.
Well-known for his rubbery face and lugubrious delivery, he also appeared as Owen Newitt in The Vicar of Dibley.
Born in Islington, north London in 1944, he was the son of Hammer horror actor Charles Lloyd-Pack and the father of actress Emily Lloyd.
His agent confirmed he died of pancreatic cancer on Wednesday night.
A versatile character actor who was at home with both comedy and drama, Lloyd-Pack studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (Rada) before making his stage debut in Northampton.
After appearances in The Avengers and other TV shows, his screen debut came in 1968 when he played a small part in The Magus.
His breakthrough came in 1981 when he was cast as Colin "Trigger" Ball, the dim but amiable roadsweeper who always called Nicholas Lyndhurst's Rodney character "Dave".
"If it's a girl they're calling her Sigourney after an actress," he said of Del Boy's child-to-be. "And if it's a boy they're naming him Rodney, after Dave."
Lloyd-Pack would go on to call the role "both a blessing and a curse" and express bemusement about his popularity with audiences.
'It's extraordinary to me as an actor to find oneself in a sitcom that's been successful and goes on being successful," he said. "I can't go anywhere without anyone going on about it."
In recent years he was seen at the Shakespeare's Globe, appearing alongside Mark Rylance and Stephen Fry in its production of Richard III and Twelfth Night.
A committed socialist, he campaigned for nuclear disarmament and was a supporter of Left Unity, a recently formed "radical political party of the left".
John Challis, who appeared as Boycie in Only Fools, said the news was "very sad and very distressing" and that Lloyd-Pack was "irreplaceable".
"My thoughts are with his family," said the actor. "He was a remarkable man and he'll be missed."
Father Ted creator Graham Linehan was among others to pay tribute, saying it was "very sad news".
"Trigger was an ancestor to Father Dougal and I'm glad I once had a chance to tell him so," he said on Twitter.
James Corden called him an "incredible actor and person", while Lord Sugar tweeted that Trigger had been "one of my favourite characters".
His death was also marked by CND, who marked his death by posting a picture of the actor campaigning against Trident.
Roger was a very very funny man and will be sadly missed.